A global biodiversity use data infrastructure acknowledging indigenous and local knowledge
Many global biodiversity datasets overlook or misrepresent the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, and Afro-Descendants (IPLCAD). We propose minimum data and metadata standards for a global data infrastructure on biodiversity knowledge and use, co-designed with IPLCAD, including information on language, community attribution and consent, to ensure data traceability and ethical use. This initiative integrates ancestral and academic sciences to advance inclusive biodiversity governance, addressing historical inequities for global sustainability.
Authors
- Sandrine Gallois (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4354-7685)
- Nivaldo Peroni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6770-5377)
- Inge Kuijper
- Samuel Appiah Ofori (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8462-5264)
- Julia Prakofjewa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3217-1704)
- Giulia Mattalia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1947-7007)
- Marciano Toledo Silva
- Salomão Bandeira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2889-4523)
- Eduardo Dalcin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4661-0272)
- Yadav Uprety (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2654-5108)
- Ángela M. Barrera-Bello (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2819-0259)
- Renata Söukand (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0413-8723)
- Tiziana Ulian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8298-256X)
- Sofia Zank (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0779-423X)
- Magdalene N. Ngeve (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8201-514X)
- Farid Dahdouh‐Guebas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5906-8996)
- Raivo Kalle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2175-8617)
- Amina Juma Hamza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0510-5832)
- Michael B. Thomas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5890-709X)
- Md. Nabiul Islam Khan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1536-8954)
- Samuel Pironon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8937-7626)
- Shyam S. Phartyal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3266-6619)
- Sètondé Constant Gnansounou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6077-9130)
- Huran Tonalli Drouet-Cruz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2080-5132)
- Jean Hugé
- Nemer E. Narchi
- Ina Vandebroek
- Khady Diallo
- Fiona M. Jordan
- Jaime Polanía
- Cristiane Julião Pankararu
- Arimatéa C. Ximenes
- Francisco Javier Benitez-Capistros
- Viviane Stern Fonseca-Kruel
- Cosmas N. Munga
- Natalia Hanazaki
- Guillaume Odonne
- Adriana S. Lima
- Zoë Honoria Dennehy-Carr
- Frederick Asante
- Carolina Levis
- Irene Teixidor-Toneu
- William Milliken
Institutions
- Khulna University (BD)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Florida Museum of Natural History (US)
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (BE)
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
- University of the West Indies System (JM)
- Central University of Ecuador (EC)
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice (IT)
- University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (US)
- University of Namur (BE)
- El Colegio de México (MX)
- Tribhuvan University (NP)
- Queen Mary University of London (GB)
- Eduardo Mondlane University (MZ)
- Mizoram University (IN)
- Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse (FR)
- Aix-Marseille Université (FR)
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (GB)
- University of French Guiana (GF)
- Estonian Literary Museum (EE)
- Technical University of Mombasa (KE)
- Ghent University (BE)
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia (CO)
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (BR)
- University of Rwanda (RW)
- Departamento Nacional de Produção Mineral (BR)
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (ES)
- Ministry of the Environment (BR)
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (United Kingdom) (GB)
- Centro Universitario Juana de Asbaje (MX)
- Université d'Abomey-Calavi (BJ)
- National Observatory (BR)
- Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro (BR)
- Forest Research (GB)
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KE)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
- World Agroforestry Centre (KE)
- Universitat de Barcelona (ES)
- Open University of the Netherlands (NL)
- Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply (BR)
- Center for International Forestry Research (ID)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Biodiversity
- Published
- 2026-02-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-026-00121-0
- Primary Topic
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Agriculture
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- Belgian Federal Science Policy Office
- Instituto Serrapilheira
- VLIRUOS